Patentable/Patents/US-11528692
US-11528692

Scheduling uplink transmissions

PublishedDecember 13, 2022
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

For scheduling transmissions of data channels, control channels, or random access channels using downlink control information (DCI) formats, a DCI format can configure a transmission of one or multiple data channels over respective one or multiple transmission time intervals. A first DCI format can configure the parameters for a channel transmission and a second DCI format can trigger the channel transmission and indicate respective one or more transmission time intervals.

Patent Claims
9 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The UE of claim 1, wherein the DCI format includes a field that indicates the second HARQ-ACK information bits associated with the second PDSCHs.

Plain English Translation

In wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G and beyond, user equipment (UE) must efficiently receive and process downlink control information (DCI) to decode downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmissions and provide hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgements (HARQ-ACK). A challenge arises when multiple PDSCHs are scheduled in the same time slot, requiring the UE to distinguish and correctly acknowledge each transmission. This invention addresses the need for a structured way to convey HARQ-ACK information for multiple PDSCHs within a single DCI format. The UE receives a DCI format that includes a dedicated field to indicate HARQ-ACK information bits associated with a second set of PDSCHs. This field ensures that the UE can accurately identify and process acknowledgements for multiple PDSCHs, even when they are scheduled in the same time slot. The DCI format may also include other fields, such as resource allocation, modulation and coding scheme (MCS), and redundancy version (RV) for the PDSCHs. The UE decodes the DCI, extracts the HARQ-ACK information, and uses it to acknowledge the received PDSCHs, improving reliability and efficiency in data transmission. This solution enhances the UE's ability to handle complex scheduling scenarios in advanced wireless networks.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The UE of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is further configured to jointly encode the first HARQ-ACK information bits and the second HARQ-ACK information bits.

Plain English Translation

In wireless communication systems, user equipment (UE) must efficiently transmit hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK) feedback to a base station to confirm successful data reception. A challenge arises when the UE needs to transmit multiple HARQ-ACK information bits, such as those corresponding to different data transmissions or different frequency bands, in a resource-efficient manner. Conventional methods may require separate encoding or transmission of these bits, leading to increased overhead and reduced spectral efficiency. To address this, a UE includes a transceiver configured to jointly encode first HARQ-ACK information bits and second HARQ-ACK information bits. The first and second HARQ-ACK information bits may correspond to different data transmissions, such as those received on different frequency bands or from different transmission points. By jointly encoding these bits, the UE reduces the overall transmission overhead and improves spectral efficiency. The transceiver may use techniques such as joint channel coding or interleaving to combine the bits before transmission. This approach ensures reliable feedback transmission while minimizing resource usage, particularly in scenarios with multiple concurrent data transmissions or carrier aggregation. The joint encoding may also include error correction mechanisms to enhance robustness against transmission errors. This solution is particularly useful in advanced wireless systems where multiple data streams or frequency bands are managed simultaneously.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The UE of claim 5, wherein the second transmission time starts before the first transmission time.

Plain English translation pending...
Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The base station of claim 8, wherein the DCI format includes a field that indicates the second HARQ-ACK information bits associated with the second PDSCHs.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to wireless communication systems, specifically to base stations that transmit downlink control information (DCI) to user equipment (UE) for scheduling and hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback. The problem addressed is the efficient transmission of HARQ-ACK information for multiple downlink shared channels (PDSCHs) in a single DCI format, reducing signaling overhead and improving communication efficiency. The base station transmits a DCI format that includes a field explicitly indicating HARQ-ACK information bits associated with multiple PDSCHs. This field allows the UE to identify which HARQ-ACK bits correspond to which PDSCHs, enabling proper feedback for each transmission. The DCI format may also include scheduling information for the PDSCHs, such as resource allocation, modulation and coding scheme (MCS), and redundancy version (RV) indicators. The base station may transmit multiple PDSCHs in a single transmission time interval (TTI) or across multiple TTIs, and the DCI format ensures that the UE can correctly interpret the HARQ-ACK feedback for each PDSCH. This approach enhances reliability and throughput in wireless communication systems by optimizing the use of control signaling for HARQ feedback.

Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. The base station of claim 8, wherein the transceiver is further configured to jointly decode the first HARQ-ACK information bits and the second HARQ-ACK information bits.

Plain English Translation

In wireless communication systems, particularly in cellular networks, efficient transmission and decoding of hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK) information is critical for reliable data delivery. HARQ-ACK feedback allows a base station to determine whether transmitted data was successfully received by a user device, enabling retransmission if necessary. However, transmitting multiple HARQ-ACK bits for different data transmissions can consume significant resources and introduce latency, especially in high-traffic scenarios. This invention addresses the problem by providing a base station with a transceiver configured to jointly decode HARQ-ACK information bits from multiple sources. Specifically, the transceiver is designed to process and decode both first and second sets of HARQ-ACK information bits simultaneously. The first set of HARQ-ACK bits corresponds to feedback for a first data transmission, while the second set corresponds to feedback for a second data transmission. By jointly decoding these bits, the base station can improve efficiency, reduce processing overhead, and minimize latency compared to sequential decoding methods. This approach is particularly useful in scenarios where multiple user devices or data streams require acknowledgment feedback, such as in multi-user MIMO or carrier aggregation systems. The joint decoding leverages signal processing techniques to distinguish and interpret overlapping or concurrent HARQ-ACK transmissions, enhancing overall system performance.

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The base station of claim 12, wherein the second reception time starts before the first reception time.

Plain English Translation

A base station in a wireless communication system is configured to receive signals from a user device. The base station includes a receiver that captures a first signal from the user device at a first reception time and a second signal from the same user device at a second reception time. The second reception time begins before the first reception time, meaning the second signal is received earlier than the first signal. This overlapping reception allows the base station to process multiple signals from the same device simultaneously, improving data throughput and reducing latency. The base station may also include a processor that analyzes the received signals to determine timing offsets, synchronization errors, or other transmission characteristics. By adjusting its reception parameters based on the timing differences between the first and second signals, the base station can optimize signal quality and minimize interference. This design is particularly useful in high-density networks where multiple devices transmit data concurrently, ensuring reliable communication and efficient resource utilization. The base station may further include antennas, amplifiers, and signal processing components to support the overlapping reception of signals.

Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the DCI format includes a field that indicates the second HARQ-ACK information bits associated with the second PDSCHs.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to wireless communication systems, specifically to methods for transmitting downlink control information (DCI) that includes hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK) feedback for multiple downlink shared channels (PDSCHs). The problem addressed is the need for efficient signaling of HARQ-ACK information in scenarios where a user equipment (UE) receives multiple PDSCHs, requiring the DCI format to clearly indicate which HARQ-ACK bits correspond to which PDSCHs. The solution involves modifying the DCI format to include a dedicated field that explicitly associates HARQ-ACK information bits with specific PDSCHs. This ensures proper decoding and feedback handling by the UE, improving reliability and reducing ambiguity in HARQ-ACK reporting. The method is particularly useful in advanced wireless systems where multiple PDSCHs may be scheduled simultaneously or in close temporal proximity, such as in carrier aggregation or multi-user MIMO configurations. The DCI format may also include additional fields for scheduling and control information, but the key innovation is the explicit mapping of HARQ-ACK bits to PDSCHs via a dedicated field, enhancing system efficiency and reducing errors in feedback processing.

Claim 17

Original Legal Text

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising encoding jointly the first HARQ-ACK information bits and the second HARQ-ACK information bits.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to wireless communication systems, specifically improving the efficiency of hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK) feedback in scenarios where a user equipment (UE) receives multiple downlink transmissions from different transmission points or cells. The problem addressed is the need to reduce signaling overhead and improve reliability when transmitting HARQ-ACK feedback for multiple transmissions, particularly in coordinated multipoint (CoMP) or carrier aggregation (CA) environments. The method involves a UE receiving a first downlink transmission from a first transmission point and a second downlink transmission from a second transmission point. The UE generates first HARQ-ACK information bits for the first transmission and second HARQ-ACK information bits for the second transmission. These bits are then jointly encoded into a single encoded HARQ-ACK signal, which is transmitted to the network. Joint encoding combines the acknowledgment bits into a compact format, reducing the overall signaling overhead compared to transmitting separate acknowledgments. The encoding may use techniques such as bitwise XOR, concatenation, or other error-correcting codes to ensure reliability. The network decodes the joint HARQ-ACK signal to determine the acknowledgment status of both transmissions. This approach is particularly useful in scenarios where the UE has limited uplink resources or when rapid feedback is required.

Claim 19

Original Legal Text

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second transmission time starts before the first transmission time.

Plain English Translation

A system and method for wireless communication involves coordinating transmission times between multiple devices to reduce interference and improve efficiency. The technology addresses the problem of signal collisions and overlapping transmissions in shared communication channels, which can degrade performance in wireless networks. The method includes determining a first transmission time for a first device to send data and a second transmission time for a second device to send data. The second transmission time is scheduled to start before the first transmission time, allowing the second device to transmit earlier and potentially avoid interference with the first device's transmission. This staggered scheduling helps optimize channel usage and minimize conflicts, particularly in environments where multiple devices compete for access to the same communication medium. The method may also involve adjusting transmission parameters, such as power levels or modulation schemes, to further enhance reliability and throughput. By carefully coordinating transmission timings, the system improves overall network efficiency and reduces the likelihood of data collisions.

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

February 5, 2020

Publication Date

December 13, 2022

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